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Grossman for governor

The Democratic primary for governor presents three candidates with proven expertise in their respective fields.

Attorney General Martha Coakley, Treasurer Steve Grossman and former Medicare and Medicaid chief Don Berwick would all bring unique talents to that Beacon Hill corner office.

But who's the best fit the assume the role of the state's CEO?

Coakley, the acknowledged front-runner who's seen her sizable lead erode of late, has made a strong political rebound from her stunning loss to Republican Scott Brown in the 2010 U.S. Senate race to succeed the late Ted Kennedy.

But her tenure as attorney general has not been without controversy.

Her choice to allow Partners HealthCare to acquire South Shore Hospital and Hallmark Health System instead of fighting the merger, plus the state Supreme Judicial Court's decision to overrule her by allowing the petition to repeal the casino gambling law on the November ballot had already called her leadership into question.

And the recent report of the AG office's settlement that allowed a lobbying firm led by a former state legislator to keep $270,000 of the $370,000 in fees it was accused of improperly collecting from a Brighton hospital just added to a perception of questionable judgment.

Steve Grossman, in his long tenure as CEO of Grossman Marketing Group, chairman of both the state and national Democratic parties, and now as state treasurer, has demonstrated the ability to successfully lead large organizations.

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Under his watch, two key bellwethers of the state's financial health have thrived.

The state's pension investment fund returned a 15.2 percent gain in 2013, a $7.9 billion increase. The Lottery, which Grossman oversees, just reported record sales and a $971 million profit in fiscal 2014, exceeded only by the $983 million profit recorded in fiscal 2012, also during his administration.

He brought greater transparency to treasurer's office by joining with other state agencies to provide residents information on how their tax dollars are spent. Now, about 85 percent of the state's transactions can be viewed online.

Grossman, as a businessman and politician, has accumulated a successful track record -- both key attributes for a governor.

For these reasons, The Sun believes Steve Grossman is the best Democratic choice for governor in the Sept. 9 primary.

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